News

League Publishes Letter to the Editor Supporting COTA Levy

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016

Today, The Columbus Dispatch published the League's letter to the editor endorsing Issue 60, the COTA renewal levy.

The League of Women Voters of
Metropolitan Columbus urges Franklin County voters to support Issue 60, the
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) renewal levy on the Nov. 8 ballot.
In our evaluation of the levy proposal, the League considered performance of
COTA on a range of issues, including the COTA's stewardship of public funds,
its history of accomplishments and its plans to continue delivering services to
the central Ohio community. We determined that COTA continues to evolve to meet
the changing needs of central Ohio by providing vital public transportation
options to the community.
Issue 60 is a simple renewal of the existing ¼% ten-year sales tax that expires
next spring.Prior to 2006, COTA was
funded primarily by a permanent ¼% sales tax. With both the permanent and
ten-year sales tax in place, the sales tax designated for COTA is ½%, which
accounts for approximately 80% of COTA’s budget.Passage
of the levy will mean no change in the sales tax that will be paid to support
COTA.

Since the last levy in 2006, COTA reports it
has significantly improved service levels and increased ridership to close to
19 million passenger trips in 2014 and 2105. Improvements include: Crosstown
bus routes, which enable riders to avoid unnecessary trips downtown; CBus,
which provides riders with free transportation in the downtown area; and
AirConnect service between airport and downtown. The levy funds the majority of
COTA's budget, which connects low income residents and residents with disabilities
to public transportation so they can access jobs, education and medical care.

As a nonpartisan grassroots citizens network,
the League of Women Voters is about making democracy work. We believe that
public transit benefits all communities and that government subsidies will be
needed. We urge you to vote yes on Issue
60.